Pig Out
Cops capture escaped swine

Livestock inspector Mark Waters lowers a lasso around an escaped pig Sunday while Gallup Police officer Victor Rodriguez and the pig's owner, Boyce Gusler, help block the pig's path at El Capitan Motel on Route 66 in Gallup. The pig was one of two that escaped from Gusler's residence and crossed Route 66 where officer Rodriguez spotted the escaped animals. (Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent)

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

Gallup police officer Victor Rodriguez chases an escaped pig Sunday evening in the parking lot of El Capitan motel on Route 66 in Gallup. A pair of pigs escaped from a nearby residence by pushing through a weak spot in the fence, and then crossed the busy road where Rodrguez spotted the animals and eventually cornered them. (Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent)

GALLUP — A pair of runaway pigs led animal control officials on a chase through a local motel's parking lot on Sunday.

Gallup patrolman Victor Rodriguez was filling his police unit with gasoline at about 4:15 p.m. at the west Highway 66 Chevron station when he saw the livestock run across the busy roadway. Rodriguez called for assistance from McKinley County Animal Control.

When the officer approached the duo, they fled into El Capitan motel parking lot where they were later cordoned into an area where an iron fence connects two of the motel's buildings.

Because of their size each pig weighed at least 175 pounds and temperament, officers where not able to capture the pigs without assistance. Rodgriguez patiently guarded the pigs for nearly 45 minutes until livestock inspector Mark Waters arrived at the scene with a trailer suitable for transporting the animals.

The male and female munched on nearby brush and buried their snouts in mounds of dirt, while their owner Boyce Gusler and Rodriguez swapped the occasional pig joke. When Rodriquez asked Gusler what type of pigs the pair were, he replied quickly.

"They're pork chops," Gusler said.

A concerned passerby also offered the pigs ears of corn to keep them occupied until personnel arrived.

Animal Control officer Andrew Trujillo, an employee of less than six weeks, said he was surprised at the size of the animals.

"I was expecting piglets," Trujillo said.

The pigs had escaped through a vulnerable patch of fencing. Rodriguez said the pigs where chasing a stray dog before they were surrounded.

When Waters arrived, six men approached the pigs and grabbed the first by its ears and pulled him into the trailer parked nearby. However, the second pig proved less cooperative and escaped into the parking lot.

Each officer stood in various locations around the pig, waiting for it to make its next move.

Officials were concerned the pig would run into the highway and cause an accident if not caught soon.

Just as the pig began to dash from an officer, Waters lassoed it with a rope. Gusler, Rodriguez and Waters dragged the squealing pig to safety inside the trailer.

"This is something new in the new year," Rodriguez said.